Mamata Banerjee on Monday tried to allay the biggest fear in the minds of the minorities, promising she would not let the saffron ecosystem persecute them, as she addressed a public meeting after an all-faith unity march.

“If you think that only you people (an allusion to Hindutva adherents) will live (in the country), that will not happen.... We will remain united and stay together, it’s my promise,” the Bengal chief minister said, appearing to project herself as the biggest protector of India’s secular ethos.

As she spoke these words, Mamata stole a glance at the group of religious heads from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities who were on the dais from where she was addressing a gathering of around 40,000 people.

The meeting was held after a 5km unity march through parts of south Calcutta, during which the Trinamul leader offered prayers at seven religious shrines popular among Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims.

At the gathering, representatives of various religions explained why Mamata’s leadership was crucial if the country were to retain its pluralistic fabric.

Their short speeches made three main points — that India’s history is one of inclusion, that the minorities fear persecution, and that Mamata alone can protect the country’s secular character and the minorities’ rights.

Mamata, who listened to them with rapt attention and occasionally complimented the speakers after their speeches, tried her best to rise to the occasion.

“The battle has begun; it’s a battle for life…. The battle may be difficult, but victory will not elude us,” she said.

As her speech triggered discussions within Trinamul about whether it was one of her best, this newspaper asked her how she rated her performance at the Park Circus Maidan.

“I did not give any speech,” Mamata replied, implying what she said was not a political statement but rather a response to the minorities’ concerns and an effort to offer them a sense of security.

Ayodhya

In her 40-odd minute address, Mamata did not mention the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya or Prime Minister Narendra Modi even once, but her speech was peppered with oblique references to the pomp surrounding the inauguration of the Ram temple.

“I don’t have any problems if people pray to Ram, Shyam or Rahim.... You can always perform puja at home. I do it, too,” she said, making it clear that she respected all religions.

Since announcing the all-faith unity march, Mamata has been trying to get the message across that the initiative was not aimed at countering or opposing the Ram temple inauguration.

“My problem is with this (display) in a country where there are so many unemployed and poor people,” she said.

Mamata accused the BJP of organising the event ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to try and reap political dividends. “Please don’t do such politics before an election.... Don’t sacrifice the poor in the name of religion.”

It was clear she wasn’t only criticising the Prime Minister’s participation in the consecration but also flagging the elaborate arrangements — such as the installation of giant LED screens across the country to beam the inauguration live — to create a frenzy around the event.

She questioned the media coverage of the developments in Ayodhya.

“Have you seen what they are doing? It’s as if the freedom struggle is going on,” Mamata said, disapproving of the round-the-clock beaming of footage from Ayodhya.

She flagged the Ayodhya show’s downplaying of Sita. “I am not against Ram, but I also respect Sita. There was no mention of Sita…. Are you anti-women? Without Kaushalya, who would have given birth to Ram?” the chief minister said.

Mamata Banerjee during the march in Calcutta on Monday. Picture by Pradip Sanyal Picture by Pradip Sanyal

Fighting BJP

Mamata said she had the ability to take the BJP on and complained she was not being allowed to put up a fight.

“I have the ability to fight (the BJP)… but they don’t let me fight,” she said, signalling her disappointment with the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties, formed last year to put up a united fight against the BJP.

Mamata has been upset with the workings of the fledgling alliance for several reasons, such as the delay in sealing a seat-sharing arrangement and the regular attacks on her by the CPM leadership and a section of the Bengal Congress.

“I suggested the name INDIA, but when I attend its meetings I see the CPM trying to dictate to others. I don’t get the respect I deserve. I will not take any advice from those against whom I have fought all my life,” she said, implying she was uninterested in any truck with the communists.

She said the delay in reaching a seat-sharing formula — something she has been pitching for right from the alliance’s first meeting in Patna — was ending up helping the BJP.

“I had told them (the Congress) to fight in 300 seats and leave the regional players to fight the BJP in their respective states…. But they say they will do whatever they want. I warn them not to do anything that will end up strengthening the BJP,” Mamata said.

Mamata accused the Congress also of failing to organise any major nationwide programme coinciding with the consecration.

“I organised this unity rally.... I am the only one who visited a temple, a gurdwara, a church, a mazar and a mosque today,” she said.

“How many political parties took the BJP head-on today? Somebody went to one temple and thought it was sufficient, but it doesn’t work like that,” she said in what seemed an allusion to Rahul Gandhi’s unsuccessful effort to visit the Batadrava Than in Assam.

Battle cry

Although Mamata deliberately had politicians playing second fiddle to the religious leaders at the unity march and the meeting that followed, her speech was a deeply political one. She explained why the BJP was a threat to India’s inclusive culture.

She spoke at length about the divergent food habits and sartorial preferences among Indians, depending on culture and geography.

“They will not allow fish and meat.... They will not allow even a pregnant woman to have eggs. They will dictate what to eat and what to wear. I won’t let that happen,” the chief minister said.

She aired one of her biggest complaints against the BJP-led Centre — that it was denying Bengal its financial dues, thus depriving scores of the poor who had worked under the 100 days’ job scheme.

Mamata said work under the rural housing and rural road schemes had stopped because the Centre had frozen the funds.

“They want us to paint government buildings in saffron…. There are so many colours in the rainbow and we can select any of them, but they want us to opt for their party colour. Why should I allow this?” she said.

Mamata referred to the BJP’s efforts to use a section of Muslims to drive a wedge in the community.

“There are some touts who split Muslim votes…. This should not be allowed. I vow, in the name of God, that if anyone helps the BJP I will not spare them,” she said.